dignity
/ˈdɪɡnɪti
/noun (plural dignities) [mass noun]
1The state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect: the dignity of labour...
- It is well understood that honour and dignity are more important than everything.
- She has an undefinable quality and she stands for dignity and respect.
- This White House came to Office on a platform of restoring honour and dignity to the White House.
1.1 [count noun] A high rank or position: he promised dignities to the nobles in return for his rival’s murder...
- He cultivated an image of Olympian detachment by scrupulously protecting the respective ranks and dignities of the grandees.
- Dealing with the item, the Mayor completely forgot the dignities of the office he holds as a neutral guardian of the rights of each citizen in his haste to score a personal rebuff.
- This is the sort of person who steps up to the plate when offices and dignities are being passed around.
Synonyms
high rank, high standing, high station, status, elevation, eminence, honour, glory, greatness, importance, prominence, prestige
2A composed or serious manner or style: he bowed with great dignity...
- Of course people should be able to deal with each other in a manner of dignity and respect.
- He handed her the rose with all the dignity that such a serious occasion demanded before getting rather unsteadily to his feet.
- Joanna did herself proud, showing that Polish youth can carry themselves with dignity and decorum all over the world.
Synonyms
stateliness, nobleness, nobility, majesty, regalness, regality, royalness, courtliness, augustness, loftiness, exaltedness, lordliness, impressiveness, grandeur, magnificence;
ceremoniousness, formality, decorum, propriety, correctness, righteousness, respectability, worthiness, honourability, integrity;
solemnity, gravity, gravitas, reserve, sobriety, sedateness, composure
2.1A sense of pride in oneself; self-respect: it was beneath his dignity to shout...
- An innate sense of pride and dignity sets them apart from the crowd.
- But on the other hand, that is what poverty does to us in the global south; it makes you lose your sense of dignity and pride.
- Imagine losing a lifetime of memories, your dignity and your sense of pride.
Synonyms
self-esteem, self-worth, self-respect, pride, morale;
decency, modesty, delicacy;
feelings, sensibilities;
French amour propre
Phrases
stand on one's dignity
Origin
Middle English: from Old French dignete, from Latin dignitas, from dignus 'worthy'.